Four teenagers in Las Vegas have admitted to voluntary manslaughter in the death of their high school classmate, Jonathan Lewis Jr. The incident took place in November and was captured on video with it being shared widely on social media. Originally charged with second-degree murder and conspiracy as adults in January, the teens struck a deal with prosecutors to avoid trial as adults.
As part of the agreement, each teen is set to serve time in a juvenile detention center. In Clark County, where Las Vegas is located, minors in the juvenile court system are usually released after completing rehabilitation programs rather than serving traditional prison sentences. The juveniles involved in this case will not be identified as they were under 18 years old at the time of the attack.
Defense attorney Robert Draskovich, representing one of the teenagers, described the deal as a fair resolution. However, Lewis’ mother, Mellisa Ready, expressed dissatisfaction with the plea agreement, feeling that there was inadequate accountability and punishment for her son’s murder.
District Attorney Steve Wolfson’s office defended the resolution of the case, emphasizing the thoughtful consideration of the challenging legal circumstances that would have been faced in trial. The office stated that the juvenile court system is better equipped to provide resources for the rehabilitation of the young defendants.
The tragic incident unfolded when the students arranged to meet in an alley near their high school to resolve a dispute over a stolen vape pen and wireless headphones belonging to Lewis’ friend. Lewis suffered fatal injuries in the altercation, leading to his death six days later. Cellphone and surveillance footage presented during the investigation demonstrated the violent nature of the attack, where Lewis was overwhelmed by the suspects.
During the altercation, Lewis attempted to fight back by throwing a punch at one of the students before being subdued and subjected to repeated punches, kicks, and stomps. Following the assault, a student and a local resident assisted by carrying Lewis back to the school campus where first aid was administered while emergency services were called.
